Harvesting machine



W..Li HENDRICKS. HARVEST'ING' MACHINE, APPLICATION man lungs, '1919.

Patented Aug. l, 1922..

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. Ll HENDRICKS.

HARVESTING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN FILED'JANJS. 191s.

Patented Aug. 1,1922,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

narran arras WALTER L. HENDRICKS, 0F' AURORA', ILLENOIS.

HARVESTNG IWAGHIN'E.

Sp ecic'aton of Letters' Patent.

Patented Aug. t, i922'.

Applicatoiiiiled-I January 25, 1918.v Serial No. 213,758.

To'cZZ ichom'z't'imay concern.'

Be it known lthat l, NALTER L. Hnivnnions,

a citizen ot the United S'tates,andresident of Aurora, county of Kane, and Sta-teof Illinois, have inventedcertain new and use t'ul improvements in Harvesting Machines,V

otwhich the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereoi.

rllhe invention relates toharvesting machines. and particularly tothose which are employed for reaping grain and-'tying-it into bundles and are of the' general type illustrated in Patent No.: 1,177 ,104 issued tol me h/.larc'h 28, 1916.1 The objectof the invention is to provide: an improvedmachineof this type, the improvements being.Y especially concerned -withV the mechanism provided torsteering and the meansl employed for support-ing and vertically adjusting thev operative parts. @ne embodiment of thje-inven tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; wherein-- Fig. 1 is a generalplan view ofthe lmachine.

Fig. 9./ is a side View ofthe same,rsome' of the parts-.beingbroken away, and other parts shown in` section,

l? ig. 3 is .fi-detail perspective view of an equalizing device,

' L'isis av detailfperspective view showing a poiiicnl of the pole,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken onthe line 5-5 or' Fig. 1., and y Fig. 6 is a perspective view ot one of the rear` wheels.

Pis in the construction shown Ain my saidv vertical spindles, as 51 and 51u. One of the rear wheels, as 12, is-located .inl rear of the platform, generally designated'70. and no grain wheel is employed. All of the sup'- porting` wheelsarethus arranged within the path ot' movement ot the outer end ofthe sickle bar represented at 16.

The mainV trame of the machine isgenera'lly designatedl. Alt its front end, this Atrame is pivotally connected with the rear endI ot the stub tongue 22, as' atf15, (Fig. while bracketsr and 81 are'providedat the rear of this rameffoi rotatably receiving-the-vertical spindles land 51a, of the rear wheelsfll andl. Theope-rative parts ot' the-machine, includ-ing the sickle bar 16l and the bundletying mechanism 75 are associated upon the main traine 13. The particular form and arrangement of these parts const-ituteno part of the present invention and they are not illustrated in de tailexcept that owing to the omissiony of the grain'wlieel special l provision is made tor supporting-theplatform 70 at its outer end and this featureA is I fully illustrated.

rThe chieiC reason for omitting` the grain wheel is than-as heretofore employed it was customarily located beyond the end` of thev sickle: bar and therefore. bent' downl and crushed aportion of the standings grain which would not thereiore be cut by they machine on the next swath. Another reason for omitting the grain wheel in the` present construction is the difficulty which would be involved inA turningthe machine with iiredgrain and bull wheels. Furthermore, the omission of the Grain wheel provides an arrangement in wiich the axis of tilting for vertical adjustment is parallel with' theV sickle bar, and is situated in the rear of the platform.

@wing to the improved arrangement of the carrying wheels, the platform 70is constructed to prevent sagging atthe outer end ot the sickle bar 16. form frame comprises the main rear` and front tramemembers 89., 83, '(Figlrp) and a supplemental rear frame member 71. These three trame members are rigidly connected at the outer `end of the platform by the end `trame piece Sfl and a diagonalbrace 86 connects the rear and iront trame members SQ, 88, intermediate their ends. The three trame members 71. 82, and 83 'are also connected byl an intermediate frame member 85 which extends -underthe platform and is turned upwardly at its rear end toprovide a postrSP against which the bracket 81 is` secured. l

The .supplemental frame member 71 is convenientlyl made tubular and this frame member is preferably turned upwardly atl its outer end, forming an upright post 72 As shown, tlief plat-v Q j Y l 1,424,746

at the outer rear corner of theplatform. rilhis post is provided for connection with the end yofa stay 73 which extends from and is secured to the .outer front corner of the platform. As shown, a threaded tensioning bolt 73a is employed for Vconnecting the stay 73 with the upper end of the post. As this arrangement requires that the supplemental frame member 71 must be lirmly held against twisting, the inner end portions 71EL (Fig. 2) of this frame member is preferably turned forwardly and supported in a stirrup 71h. For convenience of .illustration the platform conveyor 702L is shown as being of usual form.

As in my earlier form of construction the height of the sickle bar above the ground may be adjusted by varying the angle between the stub tongue and the main frame. In the present lconstruction this relative movement of the main frame and stub tongue is preferably accomplished by a.

to a yoke 21 in turn pivoted to the stuby tonguer22, so that, if the lever 17 is Vdeaxle, the effective downward pressure Von the pressed the point 15 is also depressed, and

force the point 15 downward a Vstout spring 23 is connected at one end to. the stub tongue 22 by means of the bracket 211 and at its other ,end at 25 to the lower partof the yoke- 21 so that its tension acts in opposition to the forces of gravity. It will also be noted that'when'the tension of the spring23 is weakest the forward part 19 of the lever 17'. and the yoke 2l, forming a toggle joint, provide their maximum leverage.

- The raising and lowering of the machine produces corresponding changes in the angle of the stub tongue and thereby varies the height of the pivotal connection between the latter and the pole 34C. It is important that this height should not change to any great extent as otherwise the efciency of the machine will be impaired. Thus whenf power is obtained from the carrying wheels itvhas been foundthat the'pressure' on the driving or bull wheels, produced by the 'deadweight of the machine, canbe supple-l mented to advantage by connecting the -har-V vester tothe draft means, whether horse or tractor, in such a way that the pull on the pole tends not only to move the harvester forward but also to press the driving' wheels against the ground. It follows that if. the

drivingwh'eels are arraiigedl at the front of the machine and the draft pole isY connected to the harvester at a point above the driving' wheels is substantiallyV increased.

lVhen horses are used it is also important vation with respect lto the height Vof the team, regardless of vertical adjustment of the operative parts of the machine. In order to adjust the position of the pole relatively to the stub tongueso as to keep the Whittle-tree substantially they same height above the ground, irrespective of the height of the machine, the stub tongue is provided with an extension 30 adjustably connected thereto. On each side of this extension 30 are bol-ted plates 31 having rearwardextensions 32 of segmental form.. Adjacent the outer edge of these segments are arranged a series of apertures33 adapted to register with a hole in the end of the stub` tongue 22. VBy means of a pin or bolt tures 33 the stub tongue 22 and the plates 31 may be locked in any desired angular' position. In this way the position of the rear end of the pole and the whiflie-tree and the stub tongue extension 30 relatively to the front part ofthe machine may be varied as the height of the machineabove the ground is varied. The poleV is free to swing relatively to this extension by means ofthe yoke 35 between the arms ofwhich the pole is pivotally held. Y

The power for driving the machine is taken from the front wheels V and preferably therefore in order to facilitate'thetransference of power thefront wheels are mounted directly on a stationary axle and themachine is steered by the rear wheels. Y

For transmitting power from the front i wheelsto the reaping mechanism a sprocket wheel 76 is mounted on the-shaft 28 which carries the wheel 10. YFrom vthis sprocket thereby. lt is not essential to swing both t rear wheels positively and the second rear wheel maybe arranged to have a castor-like action. TEer the purpose oi" allowing the pole to swing in a horizontal arcrelatively to the stub tongue a yoke 37 is attached to the rear of the yoke 35 engaging the stub l'ongueextension 3.0.on its upper andunder surfaces. A bolt pivotally connects the yoke 37 to the eXten'sionBO. Lateral move# j ments of the pole and .yoke 37 are transn niitted. to the rear wheelfllr'b,r means of a system of links and levers. Qnthe yoke 37 105 Y wheel a chain 77 leads toa Asprocket 78 under Y is arranged an angle piece 63 carrying a bracket 62 to which the `'forward end of a rod 6l is connected The rear: end of the rod 6l isattache'd'to one end yof a rocker 60 on the lower end of the stub tongue 22. To the other-.end 59v ofN the'rocke'r 6() is connected the forward end'of a rod 54 leading' to the rear wheel il. The wheel 11 is mounted between the arms of' fork having' a veiticle shaft 5l attached to its upper end and journaled inthe part 52 et the frame. Extending; laterally from the iork 50 isy a Abracket or angle kpiece v53 to which is pivotally and yieldin'gly connected a rod 54. This rod 54 is resiliently connected to the angle piece 53 by means ot a link 55 formed witha central aperture for springs 56 mounted on, either side of a collar 57 on the rod 54 which slidesthrough the end walls of the apertured kportion of the link.

By means ot the rods 54 and 6l, rocker 6() and the other parts above referred to, it the pole swings tothe lett, tor example. the yoke 37 will pivot on the `stub tongjue'extension 31T) thereby drawing' the rod Gl'ffoi'ivard and pushingthe rod 54 rearwardly bymeansoi1 the rocker 60. vThe backward movement ot the rod 54 turns the )forward part oi' the rear wheel lil to the right therebyturning the whole machine towardthe lett, as required. i y i i Vil hen the machine is ,raised and ylowered the distance between the rear wheel and the stub tongjue extension changes so thatto avoid turning fthe' rear wheel to one side when theme-.chine is raised or lowered, provision is made Vfor adjusting` the position ol the rocker 60 with such"movements. The pivot 64 ot the rocker is, therefore, mounted on a slide 65 adapted to be moved to and fro between guides 66 by ineansoit' a link 6T connected at one end tolugs 66 on the slide and at the other end toA the trame at the point 69. The point 69 isso located that when the machine is lowered the' link 6T moves the slide 65 'forward sufficiently to compensatey for the shortening of' the distance between the rear wheel ll 'and the stub tongue extension 30.

ln some cases, for instance when the machine is being driven along' the side of a hill, it may be desirableV to prevent the lpole swinging and thereby ,turning the rear wheels since such. turning;` movement Atends to allowv the rear end oli the ymachine to swerve down the hill. This m 'v be aecomplished by preventingthe pole Yswinginglaterally relatively lto the stub tongue extension 30 by means of a vrod or bolt l42. rllhis rod is slidablyf supported by two angle pieces'lO and 4l mountedon the upper sur't'ace o'litie stub toi 1e extension 30. A similar angle piecevllt r1s f ranged on the rear vpari of the yoke r37 having an aperture 43 adapted to receive the end of t rod V42 and thereby prevent rotation ot t yoke 43,7 about the bolt 38.

On this rod 42 is shoulder 44 for. engagingia spring, 45, the other end ot' the spring bearing againsttheanglepiece41 so that the spring tends to hold the rod'y Vin engaginent with the aperture43. Normally the rod .42 is held retracted a gainst the'torce el" this spring by means oit a link 46 connected to arpcker 48. The lower. end ot this rocker is engaged in its retracted position by means ot afspiingr-held pawl 47 adapted to be operated by the foot. Sufficient,playis allowed by the spring 45 to compensate for movementsof the rods 42 yand 46 produced by raising and lowering the machine.

It the pole is prevented from swinging horizontally as the result ot the engagement of the locking rod or bolt `42 withl vthe 'angle piece 3.9 it is desirable, if lnot essential, to disconneet the rear Vwheel,ster-ningl meclmnism. abovedescribedso' aste allow the wheel to act as a caster. Preferably, the steeringv mechanism is disconnected the wheel ll in order `to give `the fullest freedom to the latter.

In the onstruction shown the other rear wheel l12 is `arranged to ,act as a easter at allhtimes. As the harvester is constructed so that ythe pull en the machine produces a downward pressure on the drivingor bull wheelsv itl is desirable to kmake these wheels Iwider than has hitherto 'been customary. For thispurpose additional wheels orlateral extensions -T2 of the riinsot the wheels l0 may be secured thereto. These extensions are particularly useful in rice fields where the ground is extremely soft and marshy.

l claim asmy invention Al. In a harvesting machine, in combination, a trame, front and'rear carrying wheels for the frame, said frame comprising two sections pivotally connected at a point between said wheels, means for changingthe vertical angularrelation between said sections, a pole, an intermediate member between said pole'and the'forward section and connected to 4and means for changing the vertical angular relation of the vintermediate member relatively to the section to which it is connected.

2. ,ln a harvestingV machine, in combination, .a frame, a platform, carryingwheels forthe trame, said frame comprising` a cross beam at the iear ofthe platform, a vertical extension atthe. end ott said beamand a brace ertendingffrom `the upper part of said eX- tension tothe orwardportion of the frame in a vertical plane substantially parallel with fheeedfth@ Platform 3. In a harvesting machine, in combination, a frame, @Qmivrsng frontend vrear 'sctionspivo'ted together, front and rear carryingwheels `forsaid sections, a pole connected -to said front section adapted to move in a horizontal arc relatively thereto, and a rocker on said front section adapted to be turned by movements of said pole, one of said reary Y tion, a frame comprising front and rear sections pivoted together, front and rear carrying wheels for said sections, a pole connected to .said front section to move in a horizontal arc relatively thereto, a rocker on said front section turned by movements of said pole, one of said rearl wheels being operatively connected to said rocker by which itis steered, and means for changing the position of said rocker relative to the front section with changes in the angular relation between the sections.

5. In a harvesting machine, in combination, a frame comprising front andrear sections pivoted together, front and rear carrying wheels for said sections, the point of connection of said sections being intermedi- 'ate said front andv rear wheels, la spring adapted to exert an upward pressure on said point of connection and manually operated means for varying the angular relation @of said sections to each other.

6. Inpcombination, a harvester frame, reaping and binding mechanism mounted in the frame including a sickle bar extending along the front edge of the frame from one side thereof but not reaching to the other side of the frame, a pair of relatively widely separated vcarrying wheels located upon a common transverse line at the rear of the frame andconstituting a support therefor upon which Vthe frame may be tilted to anism extending from the truck to thesaid reaping and binding mechanism, said rear carrying wheels and .said truck constituting 'the only supports for the frame. f .A V7, In combination, a harvester frame, caster wheel supporting means at the rear of the Yframe upon which the Vframe may be tilted to change the elevationof its forward edge, Y a' draft truck located in front of the frame and a vertically adjustable but horizontally rigid draft-connection between the draft truck and the front of the frame, said draft truck and said' caster wheel supporting means constituting the only supports for the framelr. p l

8.V A harvesting machine, a substantially level mainframe and an upwardly Vinclined supplemental frame arranged in advance thereof and pivotally attached theretoY for motion about a horizontal axis, carrying Awheels at the rear of the main frame, carrying and driving wheels under the central portion of the supplemental frame, means' for controlling movement of the supplemental frame about said horizontal axis and a draft tongue attached tothe upper end ofV the supplemental frame whereby draft will increase the pressure of the last named wheels upon the ground.

9. In combination, a harvester frame,

draft truck in front of the frame and a ver# tically adjustable but i horizontally rigid draft connection between the draft truck and the front ofthe frame, the said draft truck and said rear carrying wheels constituting the only supports for the frame.

l0. In combination, a harvester frame,`

reaping and binding mechanism `mounted in the frame including'a sickle bar extending along the front edge of the frame'fi'om oneV Vside thereof but not reaching to Vthe other side of the frame, caster'wheelsupporting means at the rear of the frame upon which the frame may be tilted 'to change the elevation of the said sickle bar, the said caster i wheel supporting means being located'laterally within the outer end of the sickle bar, Y

a truck located in front of the frame laterally beyond the inner end of the sickle bar, a vertically adjustable but horizontally rigid draft connection between the front of the frame and the truck, and power transmitting mechanism extending from the truck to the said reaping and binding mechanism, the said caster wheel supporting means and the said truck constituting the only supports for the harvester frame.

ll. In combination, a harvester fraine,va

carrying wheel constituting a support upon which the frame may be tilted, a draft truck located infront of the frame, a verticallyYV iio swinging but horizontally rigid draft ineinj Y bei' pivotally connected to thefront of the frame and to the draft truck, manually operable means for swinging the said draft member upon i its said pivotalA connection with the draft truck as afulcrum to accomplish the said tilting of the harvester frame, and. a lifting .spring reacting between the lharvester frame and the said draft member.

at the sideY remote from the grain platform,

carrying wheels supporting the rear edge of the frame, the outer corner of the grain platform having no direct support upon the ground, a torsion member extending transversely of the frame adjacentits rear edge, means anchoring the end of the torsion member remote from the outer side edge of the grain platform and supporting means acting between the torsion member and the forward portion of the grain platform.

i3. ln combination, a harvester frame comprising, a grain platform at one side of the frame, a sickle bar extending along the front edo'e of the grain platform, a draft truck supporting the front edge of the frame at rthe side remote from the grain platform, carrying wheels supporting the rear edge of the frame, the outer front corner of the grain platform having no direct support upon the ground, a torsion member extending transversely of the frame adjacent its rear edge, means anchoring the end of the torsion member remote from the outer side edge of the grain platform and adjustable supporting means acting between the torsion member and the forward portion of the grain platform.

11i. In a harvesting machine, in combination, a wheeled power section and a wheeled operating section hingedly connected at the forward end of the operating section and the rearward end of the power section for vertical fleXure only, all of the supporting wheels of the operating section being substantially in transverse alignment and each of said wheels having pivotal movement upon a vertical axis.

l5. In a harvesting machine, in combination, a wheeled power section and a wheeled operating sec-tion hingedly connected at the forward end ofthe operating section and the rearward end of the power section for vertical lexure, only, all of the supporting wheels of the operating section being at the rear margin of said section and each of said wheels having pivotal movement upon a vertical axis.

WALTER L. HENDRICKS. 

